Georgetown : A request by opposition parliamentarians for an extension of time before the National Assembly begins consideration of estimates for the 2013 National budget came as a surprise to President Donald Ramotar who spoke of the new development in a live televised interview at Little Rock Television Station in Berbice over the weekend.
Debate on the national budget started after it was presented by Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh on March 25, and is scheduled to culminate on April 9, making way for the consideration of the estimates.
In this phase, approval or rejection of budgetary allocations provided for this year to key sectors, agencies, and projects hinges on a one-seat combined majority vote that the two opposition parties (A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change) have.
President Ramotar said it would be a “great pity” if the budget is not passed.
“We have brought our country to a level of development where we can really launch it forward… and anything that is done to affect that growth in the country will throw us back, and will slow down the development of our society,” President Ramotar said.
The criticisms that the opposition parliamentarians have advanced on the budget when the debate began followed the usual rhetoric, but didn’t impress President Ramotar as being constructive.
“I haven’t been seeing anything during the debate to make me very optimistic that they are ready to want to see our country move forward. At this point in time, I think they are still trapped in their narrow political agenda,” President Ramotar said.
You must be logged in to post a comment.